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REPUBLIC OF Marine Notice

THE MARSHALL ISLANDS


No. 2-011-17
OFFICE OF THE
MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR Rev. 8/12

TO: ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF


MERCHANT SHIPS, AND RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS

SUBJECT: Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).

References: (a) Resolution MSC.74(69), Annex 3, Recommendation on Performance


Standards for a Universal Shipborne Automatic Identification System
(AIS)
(b) SN/Circ.227, Guidelines for the Installation of a Shipborne Automatic
Identification System (AIS)
(c) Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 164.46 Automatic
Identification System (AIS)
(d) MSC.1/Circ.1252 adopted on 22 October 2007
(e) Resolution MSC.308(88) adopted on 3 December 2010

PURPOSE:

This Notice explains the carriage requirements for AIS. It provides performance standards,
guidelines for installation and elaborates on the forthcoming SOLAS regulation regarding the annual
test as from 1 July 2012. It further provides National requirements. This Notice supersedes Rev.
7/12 and reflects the addition of the text of reference (c) above as Appendix 2.

APPLICABILITY:

The IMO has established mandatory carriage requirements for approved AIS equipment
under SOLAS, Ch. V, Reg. 19.2.4, which became effective on 01 July 2002. Carriage requirements
apply to:

(a) all ships of 300 gross tons (GT) and upwards engaged on international voyages;
(b) cargo ships of 500GT and upwards not engaged on international voyages; and
(c) all passenger ships irrespective of size.

All Ships means any ship, vessel or craft irrespective of type and purpose. Therefore, these
regulations shall apply to all registered private and commercial yachts and fishing vessels.

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Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Maritime Administrator, Republic of the Marshall
Islands, c/o Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administrators, Inc., 11495 Commerce Park Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1506 USA. The
most current version of all Republic of the Marshall Islands Marine Notices may be found at www.register-iri.com.
MI-01, Rev. 1/12
REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 Implementation

1.1 All ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002 must be fitted with an approved AIS.

1.2 Existing ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002 must be
fitted according to the following timetable:

.1 Passenger ships – not later than 1 July 2003;

.2 Tankers – not later than the first Safety Equipment Survey after 1 July 2003.

Note: The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 requires all tankers operating in
U.S. navigable waters to be fitted with AIS by 1 July 2003.

1.3 Existing ships other than passenger ships and tankers:

.1 50,000GT and upwards – not later than 1 July 2004;

.2 300GT and upward but less than 50,000GT – not later than the first Safety
Equipment Survey after 1 July 2004 or by 31 December 2004, whichever occurs
earlier.

Note: The first Safety Equipment Survey means the first annual survey, the first periodical
survey, or the first renewal survey for safety equipment, whichever is due first after
1 July 2004 and, in addition, in the case of ships under construction, the initial
survey.

1.4 Existing ships not engaged on international voyages, constructed before 1 July 2002 must be
fitted not later than 1 July 2008.

1.5 All Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) flag vessels are expected to comply in
accordance with the above schedule of implementation. Nautical Inspectors shall be
assessing vessels for compliance.

2.0 Operation

2.1 There is a companion 2002 amendment to SOLAS that requires that all ships fitted with AIS
maintain the AIS in operation at all times except where international agreements, rules or
standards provide for the protection of navigational information. With respect to this
requirement, Masters should be aware of Regulation 8 of Chapter XI-2 of SOLAS, titled
“Masters discretion for ship safety and security.” This regulation reinforces and provides the
Master with significant discretion concerning the safety and security of his or her ship where
continued operation of the AIS would pose a higher risk.

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2.2 In way of examples, within ports, information on the location of all ships will be particularly
valuable to port authorities. However, there may be circumstances that would be considered
high risk, such as during volatile cargo transfers within storage terminals, where continued
use of the AIS may not even be allowed. Continued use of the AIS while transiting areas
known for incidents of armed robbery and piracy, such as the Straits of Malacca, may also be
considered a very high risk.

2.3 For these and similar other reasons, the ship’s Master may exercise discretionary authority to
switch the device off if safety is deemed to be compromised by its continued operation. Such
action, however, shall be properly recorded in the official log and reported to the Company
Security Officer and any Coastal State Authority with a vested interest in accordance with
Ship Security Plan provisions. Safety concerns shall always override those of maritime
security.

3.0 Annual Testing

An amendment in SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 18 has entered into force as of 1 July 2012.

As per IMO Resolution MSC.308(88) the amendment adds a new paragraph 9 after the
existing paragraph 8, which requires that:

“9 The automatic identification system (AIS) shall be subjected to an annual test. The
test shall be conducted by an approved surveyor or an approved testing or servicing facility.
The test shall verify the correct programming of the ship static information, correct data
exchange with connected sensors as well as verifying the radio performance by radio
frequency measurement and on-air test using, e.g., a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). A copy
of the test report shall be retained on board the ship.”

Further, it is the understanding of the RMI Maritime Administrator (the “Administrator”) that
the Guidelines on Annual Testing of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) as contained
in MSC.1/Circ.1252 (see Appendix 1), although predating the new SOLAS regulation, have
not been revoked; therefore the Administrator still gives effect to these guidelines provided
that the approved surveyor or approved testing or servicing facility is authorized by an IACS
member duly recognized by the Administrator.

4.0 USCG Regulatory Compliance

4.1 On 15 August 2003, the USCG set policy for ships trading with the U.S. When an
amendment to Chapter V of SOLAS and a provision in USCG regulations address the same
navigational safety concern and when applying both would result in an unnecessary
duplication of inconsistency between Chapter V and the USCG regulation, the USCG will
accept the provision under Chapter V as meeting the corresponding USCG regulation. This
will apply to dates of implementation of the respective requirements. In other words, if a
vessel meets the new SOLAS requirements, the vessel will also meet the requirements of any
future USCG regulations regarding SOLAS navigational equipment, including AIS.

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4.2 Provided at Appendix 2 is U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 164.46, which applies
to vessels, structures, and facilities of any kind located under, in, on or adjacent to waters
subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Masters and shipowners should be familiar with these
regulatory requirements as they may apply to their vessels operating in U.S. waters.

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Republic of the Marshall Islands


Appendix 1

MSC.1/Circ.1252

ANNEX

GUIDELINES ON ANNUAL TESTING OF THE


AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AIS)

1. The annual testing of the automatic identification system (AIS) should be carried out by a
qualified radio inspector authorized by an IACS Classification Society duly recognized by the
Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator.

2. The annual testing of the AIS installation should include:

.1 installation details including antenna layout, initial configuration report,


interconnection diagrams, provision of the pilot plug and power supply arrangements;

.2 checking the correct programming of the ships static information;

.3 the ability of the AIS to receive ships dynamic information from the appropriate
sensors;

.4 the ability to correctly input the ships voyage related data;

.5 a performance test of the equipment including radio frequency measurements; and

.6 an on-air test that the unit is working correctly using for example an appropriate
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) station or a suitable test equipment.

3. To accommodate performance test to align with the appropriate survey under the Harmonized
System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), the annual testing may be carried out:

.1 up to three (3) months before the due date of the passenger ship renewal survey or the
cargo ship safety equipment renewal survey; and

.2 three (3) months before or after the due date of the cargo ship safety equipment
periodical/annual survey (the maximum period between subsequent test is governed
by the time window associated to the subsequent surveys, unless either certificate has
been extended as permitted by SOLAS regulation 1/14, in which case a similar
extension may be granted by the Administration).

4. The annual testing should be recorded in the form of the model test report given in the
appendix. If the language used is neither English, nor French, nor Spanish, the text should include a
translation into one of these languages, as appropriate. A copy of the test report should be retained
on board the ship.

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Republic of the Marshall Islands


APPENDIX (to MSC.1/Circ.1252)
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AIS) TEST REPORT

Name of ship/call sign:


MMSI number:
Port of registry:
IMO Number:
Gross tonnage:
Date keel laid:
1. Installation details
Item Status
1.1 AIS transponder type:
1.2 Type approval certificate
1.3 Initial installation configuration report on board?
1.4 Drawings provided? (Antenna-, AIS-arrangement and block diagram)
1.5 Main source of electrical power,
1.6 Emergency source of electrical power,
1.7 Capacity to be verified if the AIS is connected to a battery
1.8 Pilot plug near pilots operating position?
1.9 120 V AC provided near pilot plug? (Panama and St. Lawrence requirement)

2. AIS programming - Static information


2.1 MMSI number
2.2 IMO number
2.3 Radio call sign
2.4 Name of ship
2.5 Type of ship
2.6 Ship length and beam
2.7 Location of GPS antenna

3. AIS programming - Dynamic information


3.1 Ships position with accuracy and integrity status (Source: GNSS)
3.2 Time in UTC (Source: GNSS)
3.3 Course over ground (COG) (will fluctuate at dockside) (Source GNSS)
3.4 Speed over ground (SOG) (zero at dockside) (Source: GNSS)
3.5 Heading (Source: Gyro)
3.6 Navigational status
3.7 Rate of turn, where available (ROT)
3.8 Angle of heel, pitch and roll, where available

4. AIS programming - voyage related information


4.1 Ships draught
4.2 Type of cargo
4.3 Destination and ETA (at masters discretion)
4.4 Route plan (optional)
4.5 Short safety-related messages

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5. Performance test using measuring instrument
5.1 Frequency measurements AIS ch. 1 and 2, GMDSS ch. 70
5.2 Transmitting output, AIS ch. 1 and 2, GMDSS ch. 70
5.3 Polling information ch. 70
5.4 Read data from AIS
5.5 Send data to AIS
5.6 Check AIS response to “virtual vessels”
6. “On air” performance test
6.1 Check reception performance
6.2 Confirm reception of own signal from other ship/VTS
6.3 Polling by VTS/shore installation

Electromagnetic interference from AIS observed to other installations?:

Remarks:

The AIS has been tested according to IMO SN/Circ.227 and resolution MSC.74(69), annex 3
Name of Radio Inspector Date and place Name of Radio Inspector
Company

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Republic of the Marshall Islands


Appendix 2

Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations,


Section 164.46 Automatic Identification System (AIS)

On October 22nd, 2003 the Coast Guard published a Final Rule that amended a previously
promulgated Interim Rule, that harmonized the AIS mandates of the Safety of Life at Sea
Convention, as amended by the 73rd (MSC 73) and 76th Session (MSC 76) , and, the Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) , which delineates U.S. AIS carriage requirements as
follows:

Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations

§ 164.46 Automatic Identification System (AIS).

(a) The following vessels must have a properly installed, operational, type approved AIS as of
the date specified:

(1) Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than passenger and fishing vessels,
in commercial service and on an international voyage, not later than December 31, 2004.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the following, self-propelled vessels, that
are on an international voyage must also comply with SOLAS, as amended, Chapter V, regulation
19.2.1.6, 19.2.4, and 19.2.3.5 or 19.2.5.1 as appropriate (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03):

(i) Passenger vessels, of 150 gross tonnage or more, not later than July 1, 2003;
(ii) Tankers, regardless of tonnage, not later than the first safety survey for safety
equipment on or after July 1, 2003;
(iii) Vessels, other than passenger vessels or tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage or more, not
later than July 1, 2004; and
(iv) Vessels, other than passenger vessels or tankers, of 300 gross tonnage or more but less
than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than the first safety survey for safety equipment on or after July
1, 2004, but no later than December 31, 2004.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section, the following vessels, when
navigating an area denoted in table 161.12(c) of § 161.12 of this chapter, not later than December 31,
2004.

(i) Self-propelled vessels of 65 feet or more in length, other than fishing vessels and
passenger vessels certificated to carry less than 151 passengers-for-hire, in commercial service;
(ii) Towing vessels of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower, in
commercial service;
(iii) Passenger vessels certificated to carry more than 150 passengers-for-hire.

Note to § 164.46(a): “Properly installed” refers to an installation using the guidelines set forth
in IMO SN/Circ.227 (Incorporated by reference, see § 164.03). Not all AIS units are able to
broadcast position, course, and speed without the input of an external positioning device (e.g.

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DGPS); the use of other external devices (e.g. transmitting heading device, gyro, rate of turn
indicator) is highly recommended, however, not required except as stated in § 164.46(a)(2). “Type
approved” refers to an approval by an IMO recognized Administration as to comply with IMO
Resolution MSC.74(69), ITU-R Recommendation M.1371-1, and IEC 61993-2 (Incorporated by
reference, see § 164.03). “Length” refers to “registered length” as defined in 46 CFR, part 69.
“Gross tonnage” refers to “tonnage” as defined under the International Convention on Tonnage
Measurement of Ships, 1969.

(b) The requirements for Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge radiotelephones in §§ 26.04(a) and (c), 26.05,
26.06 and 26.07 this chapter, also apply to AIS. The term “effective operating condition” used in §
26.06 includes accurate input and upkeep of AIS data fields.

(c) The use of a portable AIS is permissible, only to the extent that electromagnetic interference
does not affect the proper function of existing navigation and communication equipment on board,
and such that only one AIS unit may be in operation at any one time.

(d) The AIS Pilot Plug, on each vessel over 1,600 gross tons, on international voyage, shall be
available for pilot use, easily accessible from the primary conning position of the vessel, and near
120 volt, AC power, 3-prong receptacle.

* * *

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